Four-star New Jersey athlete Miles Shuler has narrowed his focus to three schools, but that comes with a catch. He still wants other schools to make their pitch.

The 5-foot-11, 173-pound athlete from Long Branch, N.J. recently took an official visit to Stanford, and while the trip went well he no longer has the Cardinal on his list.

"(The Stanford visit) went well but I've knocked Stanford off my list," Shuler said. "The future there is going to be really good, I know that. The academics are great and the place is beautiful. I would just I don't believe the head coach is going to be there. I just looked at the whole situation he's in and I just came to that conclusion myself.

"Rutgers is my home state (school)," he said. "I feel real comfortable with my position coach. I like the idea of trying to make my home state (school) a powerhouse.

"Notre Dame is a prestigious school and their academics are second to none. Coach Kelly's a phenomenal coach and he's going to change that program around. They can definitely win championships. Their facilities are second to none. I still haven't been on an official so I'm going to find the rest out when I go.

"At Northwestern, I love the head coach. He's just phenomenal as a person and as a coach. He's going to be a great coach. I've already been down there and I'm real comfortable with the players. I already have a good relationship with the head coach."

Shuler officially visited Northwestern back in October. He said he wants to take official visits to Rutgers and Notre Dame as well. Both of those trips will probably happen in January, though no dates are set.

About two weeks ago a coach from Northwestern came by for an in-home visit and the coaches from Rutgers and Notre Dame have been keeping in touch as well.

While he is high on all three schools and isn't focusing on any others, Shuler admitted he's hoping to hear more from programs out there that might give him an opportunity to try something he hasn't mentioned a lot before.

"I'm probably going to be looking for another school that would recruit me as a defensive back in case I want to do that," he said, not mentioning any schools that he has in mind.

Shuler played quarterback for Long Branch this season. As a defensive back he recorded 70 tackles and three interceptions.